Vision In Leadership

Believing IS Achieving!

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Vision In Leadership – Believing IS Achieving!

1. Lessons-in-Leadership
   • L.P.B.-IT! – The Power of Vision
2. Meeting for Results
   • “Visualize” Exercise!
3. The Juice Bar
   • Exceptional Perception for Success!
4. Reader Meter
   • Tripled Our Traffic in February!
5. Site News
   • Coming Soon

This article in for anyone who is currently unsure, unknowing, on-the-fence, and/or otherwise “searching” for the answer to whether or not he/she can be an effective leader.

The answer? Quite simply, “Maybe” or “Maybe Not”.

No, we are not trying to be funny or in any way make light of the question.

The simple truth of the matter is this. Whether you think you can be an effective leader, OR you think you can’t be - You Are Right!

You may be saying, “What the heck are you talking about?” But just take a moment and think about the original question.

We challenge you to ask this question again, but in a slightly different way. Rather than asking, “Can I …?” – Instead ask:

Asking the question this way, makes something very clear to the person asking the question. That “something” is that each of us has a choice to make as to what we want to be in any given moment. THE CHOICE IS OURS.

Vision in Leadership is very much about making choices. Leaders make choices everyday that affect many other people. Because of the responsibility and accountability that comes with leadership, a good leader makes choices based on strong principles and beliefs.

Choosing a specific path or vision for your team or your company, is done most effectively by following the L.P.B.-It method.

The title of this article is “L.P.B.-IT! – The Power of Vision”. L.P.B. stands for the following:

Leave It
Perceive It
Believe It

LEAVE IT! - When faced with an important decision, it is sometimes easy to focus in on all the reasons why we shouldn’t do something versus why we should, or why perhaps it won’t work versus why it will.

Leave It – makes the point that a strong leader routinely makes the choice to “leave” negative thinking behind. There are plenty of nay-sayers who accomplish little or nothing. YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO BE ONE OF THEM.

On a regular basis, step at least “1 inch” outside your comfort zone. That is where all the action is!

In fact, everything you have ever wanted and have thus far been unable to obtain, is more than likely located “outside” this comfort zone.

To be a successful leader, you must be “uncomfortably successful”. Make this choice now!

Perceive It! - A strong leader’s perception is truly a powerful tool. Effective leaders perceive things differently in most cases from others.

For instance, go anywhere in Smalltown, USA or Ruralville, America where Walmart, Costco, Home Depot or some other huge bulk outlet store has just come to town.

Local retailers in these little towns have nightmares about this scenario playing out in their own backyards. The thought of having to compete against Goliath is extremely frightening.

No one would argue the fact that these local retailers have a right to be concerned. But, if our L.P.B.-It method really works, shouldn’t we “leave” these negative thoughts aside? Answer: YES!

The truth of the matter is that no amount of fear is going to change the minds of large chain executives. They will either make the decision to open, or they won’t. If they do choose to expand to these markets, you should know that they are well aware of your fears. In fact, these executives are counting on this fear.

Instead of “perceiving” the bulk stores as the enemy. Why not “perceive” them as an opportunity? YOUR - Ace In The Hole!

Opportunity may come in many forms, but we must seize the moment and perceive the opportunity in order to avoid becoming the victim of circumstance.

Examples of potential opportunities from the above scenario:

• Traffic patterns may change so perhaps a relocation of your business may be great for future growth.
• Land values may rise in certain areas. Buying now and selling later may be a wise investment for an early retirement.
• Increased competition typically increases quality for the consumer. More choices make service and quality more important. Price is not always the deciding factor. Know what your customers value most and deliver.
• Identify a niche for positioning your current business, or open a new business that can take advantage of the increased traffic and that can compliment the incoming bulk store.
• If you aren’t willing to compete, perhaps your expertise would be highly valued as a manager or supervisor at the new bulk store. Potential for stock options, increased benefits, new challenges, etc.

The fact is, we could go on and on about possible opportunities in virtually any given situation. It’s all based on a person's perception of any given event.

Perceiving things positively by no means ensures success, but understand this; perceiving things negatively virtually guarantees failure.

Again, it’s a choice, make yours now!

Believe It! - You may have heard the term “Believing is Achieving”.

This is a very simple but powerful phrase that has been proven over and over again. If you think about it, nothing great has ever been achieved until someone has finally comes along with the belief that it should be - and WILL be achieved.

For instance, man first stepped foot on the moon because of a President who firmly believed that we could achieve what many considered impossible.

President Kennedy addressed our nation by saying words to the effect, “some look to the moon and ask why, I look to the moon and ask why not.”

Isn’t it fair to say that President Kennedy’s belief of what could be achieved was very different than the belief of most people? If you agree, you might also concede that it was his strong “belief” that inspired a nation to make the impossible - possible.

In his recent book “Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell” by Oren Harari, he states:

The same point can be made for a leader’s strong belief. The power of one’s belief and ability to communicate his/her belief to influence others IS awesome.

In conclusion, the L.P.B.-It method is all about making the appropriate choices in order to carry out your vision for success. Vision = Choice Cubed, if you will!

1. CHOOSE to leave the self-doubt and “can’t-do” garbage behind you in order to allow new worlds and new beginnings in.
2. CHOOSE to see opportunity instead of catastrophy.
3. CHOOSE to believe in the impossible in order to experience all that IS possible.

See you in the next section!

This exercise is focused on getting people to perceive things positively. The exercise goes like this:

Make the point to your team that they have the power to perceive virtually all things either from a positive or negative perspective. Lead a discussion asking for attendees to offer up negative circumstances resulting from the recent tragedy involving the Space Shuttle Columbia. (Creating this "list of negatives" will come easily for the participants given the nature of the disaster. For example: The loss of life, the potential effects for radiation on the ground, the devastating blow to the space program, the children and families effected by the loss of loved ones, etc.) Make the list no longer than 8-10 items in the interest of time.

Next, ask the group to come up with a list of positive outcomes from this experience. (This will be harder for the group because it is difficult to voice optimism when talking about personal tragedy. You can offer up a few of your own ideas to get people started thinking from a different point of view.

For instance some positive outcomes are:

• The space program will learn from this disaster and become even safer for future flights – thus saving countless lives.
• The nation came together from the crisis which is good for the solidarity of our country.
• The family members will remember their deceased as American Heroes and throughout history their family will take pride in his/her commitment to space exploration.
• The focus on the tragedy from the national media will inspire a new generation of space enthusiasts. Perhaps a child who will become the greatest space explorer of all time.

Now challenge your team to come up with 5 additional positive outcomes. You will be surprised now by their creativity and renewed vision for what is possible.

Lastly, go through the exact same exercise. This time however, choose the following topic appropriate to your own business. “Revising our production goals UP by an additional 15%.”

After going through the negatives first (limit the list to 5 items), then go through the positives, and allow your team to have a lengthy discussion on HOW this 15% production increase will be achieved. In effect, let them create a mini action plan.

Once the group has agreed on how to increase the production by 15% you can ever- so-gently inform them that the goals did NOT just go up by 15%. BUT, now that we have a plan, don’t you think we should use it?

Have fun with this exercise! It shows people you are a leader with vision and that you understand the power of perception and belief.

Hopefully, it will also show your team that you have a warped sense of humor! This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – show them it’s ok to have fun while increasing expectations.

Recently we heard the following true story. We were so inspired by a simple comment made by a physically challenged young man we simply had to share this with our readers.

We think you will agree that this short story fully supports the idea that vision is a truly powerful force. We begin here.

A young man by the name of David lost both legs when he was a very young child in a farming accident.

David grew up loved and supported by his family, including three brothers and two sisters - who were all quite athletically inclined.

Throughout his upbringing David attended all sorts of athletic events. Every weekend it seemed, the family attended various tournaments – basketball, baseball, volleyball, you name it. The activities were endless.

Living in a small town, David was not able to participate in athletic events specifically for physically challenged individuals. So he spent a lot of his time helping out at practices, keeping score, doing whatever he could to support and be part of the team.

David had a wonderful perspective on life. He had goals for his future and he fully intended on becoming a fully functioning member of society. Throughout his life he dreamed of one day becoming a great basketball player.

David’s mother marveled as his optimism, but was never so astounded as she was one day when she drove David down to the local post office.

Earlier in the day, David’s mother informed him that they needed to go down to sign up for Selective Service. David had just recently turned 18.

Once they arrived at the post office, David wheeled himself up to the counter, thought for a second, and then once again asked his mother what he was signing up for. She re-stated that they needed to sign him up for Selective Service.

Upon seeing the look on David’s face she realized he had no idea what Selective Service was. She asked David, “Do you know what the Selective Service is?” David said he did not.

She smiled nicely, and said, “Despite the fact that you have some physical limitations, we are signing you up for the draft.”

David’s eyes grew wide! His smile ran from ear to ear!

He could barely mutter the words, but at last he said,

Now that, my friend – is VISION.

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